Chagus aba
Farming Method(Tea-grass Integrated System)
in Shizuoka

GIAHS

What is GIAHS?

The Hill That Bears the Kanji "Tea"

H IGASSHHIYAMA

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems is a project
established by an international organization, the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, headquarters isin Rome, Italy). FAO's purpose is to ensure stable food supply. GIAHS
is a necessary project to reexamine the overemphasized productivityof aggressive modern agriculture which brought about
environmental problems such as deforestation and global waterpollution. This has also resulted in the disappearance of local cultural
heritage, sceneries and biodiversity.
The purpose of GIAHS is to pass down traditional agriculture and its
method to the next generation. The succession of this heritage has
conditions. The farming method itself restores the land environment.
The land usage preserves biodiversity. Farming culture and its
sceneries have to be protected. All of them are declining due tomodernization. The succession of each element above mentioned are
all integrated into 'regional systems' to be protected and maintained.
Just as UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization) registers and protects world heritage sites like ruins,
historical buildings and nature as 'immovable property,' GIAHS
registers and aims to protect the regional systems.

東山

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

HIGASHIYAMA

Chagusaba Farming Method Keeps the Nature of Higashiyama Alive
Annual late autumn grass cutting and carrying out activity preserves biodiversity of
the unique Chagusaba grasslands. Species endemic to certain local areas, plants andanimals diminishing nationwide are observed in Chagusaba locations.
Semi-natural grasslands around the green tea fields
maintained by the green tea farmers had been called'Chagusaba' from long ago in the Higashiyama
district of the northeast Kakegawa city. Semi-natural
grasslands once used to be seen many places allover Japan are now rapidly diminishing. Some of theanimals and plants that made their home in suchgrasslands are endangered. But Higashiyama green
tea farmers had kept cutting the grass and castingthem in between the tea bush furrows to produce
high quality green tea for more than 150 years. This
labor intensive efforts to produce good green tea
had helped to sustain the biodiversity of thediminishing rural grasslands.

abaC h ag u s
fis Full o ndaAnimals s
P lan t

The total of Chagusaba
area is aslarge as130ha

Have you noticed there are various sizes ofChagusaba grassland around the green tea fields inHigashiyama?
In fact 130ha is for Chagusaba out of 180ha green
tea fields: that means 70% is Chagusaba.

Chagusaba

Beautiful rare flowers, insects and animals make theirabode in Chagusaba of Higashiyama
Near-threatened
species by the prefecture

The Hill That Bears the Kanji "Tea"Higashiyama Access

Chagusaba
Farming Method(Tea-grass Integrated System)

in Shizuoka
SHIZUOKA Pref.

Kawane honcho

Class II7. Cut grass between tea bush furrows

endangered species
by the Ministry of
the Environment(Fujitaigeki)Euphobia Watanabei

Kakegawa Fukibatta*flowering time: late May ~ middle JulySpecies endemic only to Shizuoka prefecture. They used togrow widely in the prefecture. But they are now found only
three Chagusaba locations including Awagatake. Chagusaba
where grass cutting occurs only once a year had protected thisspecies.

*late June ~ beginning of November
Grasshoppers endemic to the area between Ohi river andTenryu river in Shizuoka prefecture. This species is unable to fly
due to degenerated wings and differs in types according to theareas. Observed in Japanese pampas grass in Chagusaba. Itsscientific name bears 'awagatake.'

6. Laying cut grass in between tea bush furrows

Makinohara city
Kikugawa city

Necessary time to reach Higashiyama(Chagusaba)

Shimada̲Kanaya I.C.

Shin Tomei Highway

Higashiyama

Kamoshika(Japanese serow)Haru rindo(Gentiana thunbergii)

Sasa yuri(Lilium Makinoi)*all year
Relate d to cows. T hey de clare theirt e r r i t o r i e s b y r u b b i n g s w e e t s ce n t
secreted from bump-like suborbital gland
beneath the eyes on trees. Often seen
after cutting grass in November to April.

*flowering time: late March ~ April
Biennial plant that grow in sunny andmoist grassland. Sunshine makes theflowers open up and cloudy sky makes
them close. The height of the plant is only
10cm. Because the cut grasses are carriedaway every year, these little plants canreach out to the sun and sur vive.
Otherwise they would not grow.

*flowering time: May ~ beginning of June
Endemic to Japan. This lily has beencherished by Japanese people sincean c i e nt t im e s . I t w as m e nti o n e d inJapanese classic literature Manyoshu. Ittakes seven years from sprouting seed togrow to blo om. T hey can sur vive in
Chagusaba because the cut grasses arecarried away every year.

Kinran (Cephalanthera falcata)

Okatoranoo (Gooseneck loosetrife)

Hotarubukuro (Bellflower)*flowering time: April ~ May
A type of orchid. The shiny lemon yellow
flower looks like simmering gold. It isdifficult to cultiv ate ar tificially as it
nourishes from symbiotic bacteria on itsroots.

*flowering time: June ~ July
You can enjoy the small flowers for a longtime as they bloom from the bottom of theirarching stems. Its Japanese name means
tiger's tail as the arching stem looks like it in apainting.

*flowering time: late June ~ July
White or light pink flower bloom like bells
side by side. Also called 'lantern flower' insome areas. They look like lanterns carriedby hands.

Mori̲Kakegawa I.C.

neo LianakHamryuTen

Kakegawa CityOike I.C.

Miyawaki I.C.

5. Cutting grass further in short length

FujisanShizuoka
Airport

Saigo I.C. R-1 kakegawa Bypass

Chag us aba
Farming Method(Tea-grass Integrated System)
in Shizuoka

Shinada city

Kakegawa city

Approx. 30min. by car from Kakegawa I.C.
Approx. 35min. by bus from Kakegawa station

Chagusaba areas around green tea fields in summertime.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Scenery of green tea fields represent a countryside view ofShizuoka. The green tea farmers cut Japanese pompous grass,bamboo grass and alike around the tea farms between lateautumn and winter, dry them and lay them in between tea
bush furrows. This Chagusaba farming method has been
repeated every year to produce high quality green tea despite
the availability of modern green tea production. The labor
intensive effort to produce good green tea and to sustain thebiodiversity of Chagusaba in Shizuoka was highly appraisedby FAO of the United Nations and certified as GIAHS in 2013.

1. Chagusaba thickly covered with grass in autumn

Yasaka I.C.

Senba I.C.

Sawada I.C.

JR Kakegawa Sta.
JR Aino Sta.

Tomei Highway

Kakegawa I.C.

Shinkansen
Kikugawa Sta.
JR Tokaido Line
Kikugawa I.C.

Class II

endangered species
by the Ministry ofthe Environment

Caution!
150 years of traditional Chagusaba farming method

茶文字の里 東山 The Hill That Bears the Kanji "Tea"

These plants and animals are our precious friends who are the harbingers of each season.
They are important just as the shape of the remaining snow on the mountains tells the time to plant rice in the northern snow
regions. Please do not harm our harbingers.

2. Farmers cutting grass between autumn and winterhi,' drying

4. 'Kappos

ass

the cut gr

3. Chagusaba after grass cutting

Watch video of cutting works
on Chagusaba

Watch video of people producing
high quality green tea

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

to Kakegawa city area &Kurami Hot Spring

Tea Factory

Fujitohseicha

Chagusaba Farming Method

Agricultural Cooperative Associations(Tea-grass Integrated System)

Our tea factory promotes our own green tea to many people byhosting events like green tea parties. We host an annual springgreen tea party on top of Awagatake during cherry blossom
season.

about130m

in Shizuoka<PM0QTT<PI\*MIZ[\PM3IVRQ <MI

0QOI[PQaIUI±O
a① Iwakura②Ancient Forest

The remains of ancient worshipplace. Iwakura is the power spot ofHigashiyama as it is said that gods
descend on these boulders. Receivea full dose of gods' blessings in frontof these boulders.

Awawa forest on top of the hill isregistered as natural monument
by Shizuoka prefecture. Take a
deep breath in this forest andrefresh your body and soul.

★★
（532m）

Awagatake

Figure of Eisai

Video information
on Iwakura

about 130m

The huge k anji letter " tea" was written on the side of
Awagatake mountain. It was accomplished by the local
residents' proposal in 1932. Pine trees were planted one by one
by confirming the right location to create the letter from a fardistance. They corresponded by signaling white flag in the timeof no transceivers nor cell phones. The pine trees weredamaged later by pine weevils and replaced by Japanesecypress trees. The kanji letter "tea" and the Chagusaba
grassland around it have been both maintained and protectedto this day.
The blooming cherry blossoms and new green tea leaves are
beautiful in spring. The mountain sometimes is adorned bywhite snow in winter. Please enjoy the kanji letter 'tea' in all fourseasons.

Video information
on Ancient Forest

ShopAwawa Shrine●Iwakura ①
Ancient Forest ② ③ Sacred tree

DATA

730 Higashiyama Kakegawa city
TEL0537-27-2210
FAX0537-27-1876
HPhttp://www.awantake.com/
https://www.fasebook.com/fujitoh

to Shimada & Fujisan Shizuoka Airport③Sacred tree
Old Japanese cedar tree inAwawa forest.

There are so many hidden sights to see in Awagatake.
Hike the hill and enjoy the beautiful sights.

Hiking andGreen Tea Factor yTea Factory

Map

Green Tea Business Association(Polygonatum odoratum)ﬂowering time: mid-April ~ May
One or a pair of two pretty flowers
similar to lily bells line up the stem.
The root looks like that of plantnamed 'tokoro.' Tokoro's root is bitterto taste but Solomon's seal's root issweet. Therefore Japanese namemeans 'sweet tokoro.'

Hiking Rules in Higashiyama★ Higashiyama
Ippukudokoro
Hiking Root(One Way 60Min.）JA Kakegawa Higashiyama
branch office

Our associations maintain our tea field communally to cultivate
high quality green tea leaves. We try our best to produce reliable,safe, and delicious green tea. Let's have relaxing tea time with
our deep steamed green tea. Enjoy the color, aroma and taste.

★
DATA富士東茶業協to see the③ Viewpoint
kanji letter "tea" on Awagatake★
Tea Factory

1821-12 Higashiyama
Kakegawa city
TEL.0537-20-0408
FAX.0537-20-0410
HPhttp://higashiyama-tea.com/
BLOG://fukamushi.hamazo.tv/

Fujitohseicha

MoriKakegawa
I.C.

Agricultural Cooperative Associationseto Kawane

Shin Tomei Highway

Kurami Hot Spring
to Kakegawa

AwagatakeShka
to Shizuoka

ShimadaShhimaddaa
KanayaI.C.

to Hamamastsu▲

Higashiyama
Deep Steamed Green Tea

to Shizuoka

Higashiyama

Chagusaba"Chagusaba Farming Method in Shizuoka" as GIAHS is highlyvalued in terms of conserving environment because producing
good quality green tea result in conserving biodiversity. Promotion
council for GIAHS "Chagusaba Farming Method in Shizuoka"
consists of leaders from five cities in Shizuoka prefecture where thefarming method is practiced. The council started authorizedpractitioner system for the Chagusaba Farming Method inSeptember, 2013. This authorized practitioner system evaluates
how much the farmers make efforts and contribute to maintain
Chagusaba as the grassland of biodiversity as well as to produce
good quality green tea. The system authorized in three ranks
according to the ratio of the size of maintained Chagusaba area tothe entire tea farm. Authorized farmers can publicly announce thatthey are the practitioners of the Chagusaba Farming Method andlabel as such on their green tea products.

Higashiyama deep steamed green tea is steamed 2 to 3 times
llonger thanh theh medium
did green tea. Y
j our green
grade
You can enjoy
tea with hot water in a hasty manner or with somewhat lukewarm
water by taking a long steeping time. You can always come up
with beautiful green color with great taste in any situations.
Generally, if you would like the plain and light green tea, werecommend to prepare with hot water for a short steeping time. If
you would like to enjoy thesweet taste, we recommend toprepare with lukewarm water
for a long steeping time.¬
Green tea leaves inHigashiyama are thick andhard because of the frequent
fog a nd w ide temperat u redifference between the dayand night.
Such leaves make extremely
pleasing and elegant taste
with great aroma.

★

● KANSENJIBus Station●（W.C.）

THE WORK OF AUTHORIZED PRACTITIONERS OF
CHAGUSABA FARMING METHOD IS ESSENTIALLYVALUABLE.

The Hill That Bears the Kanji "Tea"Higashiyama

Solomon's seal

Please protect the nature. Do not harm the plants and animals.
Please take home all your own food and trash.
Please stay on the hiking trails. (to prevent accidents)
Tea fields and parking spaces are privately owned. No trespassing please.
Please do not get in the way of farm work.

Green tea produced in Higashiyama tea factory has
top-grade "Three-Leaf mark."

Landmark of Awagatake that bears\PMSIVRQ±TM\\MZ± \MI

H i g a s h i y a m a I pp u k u d o k o ro

S a n c h ote n

GIAHS "CHAGUSABA FARMING METHOD IN SHIZUOKA"AUTHORIZED PRACTITIONER SYSTEMᮾ ᒣ Ⲕ ᴗ ⤌ ྜ

1ot
RoHigashiyama
Ippukudokoro ●Kansenji●●
JA Kakegawa Higashiyama●
branch oﬃce
Bus Station●Shinsenji（W.C.）

1naya
JR ka

to Shimada

Higashiyama

Green Tea Business Association

Tea Factory

toof view
Aw poag intatake

至国1★

Tanaka Nouen

primary school

Have some delicious Higashiyama deep steamed green tea
cultivated in Chagusaba.

★

Signboard

Kapposhi

Our motto is reliable and safe. We
only use the tea leaves harvested
at our tea farm. The first one sip ofdeep steamed green tea from
Higashiyama will give you the
profound aroma and taste. Please
try our green tea.

to see the② Viewpoint
kanji letter "tea" on Awagatake★

★
★
Signboard

1

1ot
Ro

Signboard★

to Omaezaki Fujisan Shizuoka
AirportTea Factory

Choshoin●You can purchase Higashiyama green tea here!

★ Tea FactorySta.

Yamatoh
東山いっぷく処★ Green Tea Business Association H i g a s h i y a m a Ipp u k u d o k o ro

Tea Factory

YamatohWe warmly welcome youwith Higashiyama green tea
at Higashiyama
Ippukudokoro. We sell our
famous letter "tea" on themountain manju as well as
Closed onlots of locally produced
Wednesday (If Wednesday is a holiday,vegetables, fruits and edible
Thursday is closed)
wild plants. We can tell you
1173-2 Higashiyama Kakegawa
the great spots of the season
to visit. Please stop byBusiness hours: 9:00am~4:00pm
Ippukudokoro for a little
Closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
rest from your hiking and http://www.higashiyamacha.jp
F\FOLQJ¬to see the① Viewpoint
kanji letter "tea" on Awagatake

文Footbridge

Kotonomama
Hachimangu

to Hamamatsu●●DATA
Drive Station

Yasaka I.C.

315 Higashiyama Kakegawa city
TEL.0537-27-1305
FAX.0537-27-1664
HP http://tanakanouen.jp/
BLOG ://ameblo.jp/tanakanouenjp/

Fringed pink
(Dianthus superbus)★

Tea Factory

Tanaka Nouen
to Kakegawa city & Nissaka

ﬂowering time:June ~ September
One of seven autumnal flowers. Theplant had been loved since Manyosho
was written. It is also called 'Yamato
nadeshiko' to differentiate from thesimilar plant called China pink fromChina.

"I willsecup of rve youadelgreen icious
teStop a.
our sh byop.(^^)/Green Tea Business Association
The most challenging effort to produce green tea is that you aredealing with the nature. It is essential to manage the tea fieldaccording to the daily environmental change such as the early
spring frost and dry summer. Farmers in their twenties up to oldexperienced ones all work together to produce great tea. Comesee us work at Higashiyama.

to Shizuokaasspa
By

Video information
on delicious items
at Higashiyama
Ippukudokoro.

DATAto Kakegawa city & Nissaka

Higashiyama
Kakegawa city1983-1
TEL0537-27-0281
FAX0537-27-1304
HPhttp://yamatoh.jp/
BLOG http://yamatoh.hamazo.tv/

東山いっぷく処 山頂店

H i g a s h i y a m a I pp u k u d o k o ro S a n c h ote nAddress: 1050-1 Higashiyama Kakegawa Shizuoka
436-0001
Phone: 0537-27-0845
Closed on Monday (If Monday is a holiday, Tuesday is closed)